Digest

SOCCER

AFC Champions League matches postponed

AFC Champions League groupstage matches involving Chinese clubs have been postponed due to concerns over the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Tuesday.

In a statement following an emergency meeting at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the AFC said games for the first three East Zone match days in February and March-involving Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai SIPG and Beijing Guo'an－will be rescheduled for April and May.

East Zone last-16 matches are pencilled in for June 16 and 17, with the return legs on June 23 or 24.

"We came together in difficult circumstances to find solutions to allow us to play football while ensuring we protect the safety and security of all players, officials, stakeholders and fans," AFC secretary-general Windsor John said in a statement.

The meeting, attended by representatives of national soccer associations, leagues and clubs, was called in response to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

CFA expels clubs over non-payment of wages

Nine professional Chinese clubs have been kicked out of next season's league for failing to pay the salaries of their players, coaches and staff on time, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said on Tuesday.

Among them are three second-tier clubs－Sichuan FC, Shanghai Shenxin and Guangdong Southern Tigers. The other six are third-tier teams.

The clubs "failed to submit, by February 3, 2020, the confirmation forms for full payment of coaches, athletes and staff wages and bonuses for 2019," the CFA said in a statement on its website.

The CFA announced last October that failure to pay salaries on time would result in disqualification for the next campaign.

The policy, together with a new salary cap, is aimed at curbing excessive spending by Chinese clubs.

According to a survey, the average income of China's third-tier clubs in 2018 was only 9 million yuan (about $1.3 million).

Average salary expenditure reached 8 million yuan, and with other expenses, the average loss of each club was about 20 million yuan. The average loss of second-tier teams was also 20 million yuan.

BASKETBALL

Covington to Rockets, Capela heads to Hawks

Robert Covington is going to the Houston Rockets and Clint Capela is headed to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a complicated four-team trade that was approved by the NBA late on Wednesday night.

All told, it included 12 players and three draft picks.

The Rockets got Covington and Jordan Bell from Minnesota, plus Golden State's 2024 second-round pick from the Hawks. Atlanta got two centers, Capela and Nene from Houston.

Denver got Gerald Green from Houston along with the Rockets'2020 first-round pick. The Nuggets also landed Keita Bates-Diop, Shabazz Napier and Noah Vonleh from Minnesota.

Minnesota got Brooklyn's 2020 first-round pick and Evan Turner from Atlanta, plus Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Juancho Hernangomez from Denver.

Iguodala swapping Memphis for Miami

A source familiar with the negotiations says Andre Iguodala is headed to Miami after the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies agreed on his long-awaited trade on Wednesday night.

As part of the deal, Iguodala agreed to a two-year extension, with the second of those years being a team option, according to the source who spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.

Iguodala, speaking to The Undefeated, said he was eager to play alongside Heat star Jimmy Butler and Miami's young core.

"Jimmy Butler ... he's looked at as different but (is) very well-respected in terms of the passion and the hard work that he brings to the game," Iguodala said.

"I feel like his temperament and values that he has really resonates with the Miami Heat. They're very well aligned. I think he's brought out the best in those young guys."

Butler said of Iguodala: "He's super-smart. There's nothing that he cannot do. When I get to learn from him, when everyone gets to learn from him, that winning level, that meter, is going up."

TABLE TENNIS

National team training canceled due to virus

The Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) confirmed on Thursday that a planned training session for the country's top players has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

A selection of leading Chinese paddlers had been scheduled to gather in Haikou, in south China's Hainan province, for a month-long training camp ahead of the World Table Tennis Team Championships, which are due to take place in Busan, South Korea, from March 22-29.

However, amid concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus, the CTTA has decided to cancel all domestic activities and competitions for the next two months, including the Asian Cup which was scheduled to be held in Wenchang, Hainan province, from Feb 28 to March 1.

"All the national team members are healthy and highly focused on preparations for the upcoming team worlds, as well as the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer," said a source close to the CTTA.

The core members of the Chinese squad, including world champions Ma Long and Liu Shiwen, have just returned from a World Tour event in Magdeburg, Germany.

BASEBALL

Atlanta college names building for icon Aaron

Dozens of students dressed in blue welcomed Hank Aaron to their Atlanta college campus on Wednesday as the school named a building for the baseball icon on his 86th birthday. Atlanta Technical College renamed a building for the former Atlanta Braves slugger, christening it the Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron Academic Complex. Aaron, a longtime supporter of the college, donates thousands of dollars to the school every year and his Chasing the Dream Foundation awards scholarships to several students.

As the legend arrived, there was cheering all around. Aaron looked calm and smiled as students, teachers and several big names from baseball honored him on his birthday. Even former US president Bill Clinton sent a video message. "I don't feel like I'm 86, but I am 86," Aaron said.